The Crosstown Trail is just one way to explore San Francisco. For Crosstober 2022, we’re offering our customary walk of the full trail, from Candlestick Point to Lands End, along with several walks that ramble through neighborhoods near the Trail. On these ‘trail-adjacent’ walks, you’ll visit urban farms, stairway gardens, restored natural habitats, street art, and more. You’ll also meet some of the volunteers who are building community by caring for these neighborhood treasures.
Here’s the lineup; just click on each event’s Eventbrite link to learn more and register. Sign-up’s open the week of September 19.
Sunday, October 2: Walk the Crosstown Trail South to North. Meet at 9am at Sunrise Point in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, the starting point for our 17-mile walk. Walkers can proceed at the moderate pace of the leader or go at their own pace and bail anywhere they choose. Those intent on going the whole distance should bring lunch; others might choose to eat lunch in the Sunset or the Richmond. We expect to finish the full walk by late afternoon, when you’ll have the opportunity to walk a wee bit further to the Beach Chalet for a celebratory pint. Note: Sunrise Point is approximately 15 minutes on foot from the park entrance. Because the parking lot at Candlestick closes at 5pm, participants are highly encouraged to be dropped off at the park entrance, 500 Hunters Point Expressway, or arrive there by taxi or rideshare. Due to construction, vehicular access to Hunters Point Expressway must be made from Gilman Ave. Capacity: 25 people. Leader: Bob Siegel
Saturday, October 15: The OMI – Ocean View, Merced Heights, and Ingleside. Meet at 10am at Unity Plaza, 1002 Ocean Ave. This 7-mile loop walk takes you through a stairway garden, an urban farm, a rocky outcrop with a panoramic view, and other pockets of green space that are being cared for by neighbors. Visits include Ridge Lane as well as several sites getting TLC from the Friends of the OMI Mini Parks. We’ll also walk along Urbano Drive, site of a former racetrack and a landmark sundial. Moderate elevation gain and mixed terrain: pavement, stairs, dirt paths. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. We will make brief stops along the way to meet several community stewards and eat lunch at a park, so plan to be out for about 4 hours. The walk will finish at Unity Plaza. Capacity: 25 people. Leader: Karen Rhodes
Sunday, October 23: Excelsior-McLaren Loop. Meet at 10am at the southeast corner of Mansell St. and Visitacion Ave. in McLaren Park. This 6-mile loop winds through McLaren Park, San Francisco’s second largest park, to discover some well known and some not too well known spots like the duck pond, labyrinth, Jerry Garcia Amphitheater (home to upcoming events including Due South 10/8, African Arts Festival 10/16, and Sundown Cinema 10/21), and more. We’ll climb tiled stairways and stroll through the Excelsior neighborhood. Plenty of surprise vistas with beautiful views around the Bay and to the Pacific. Approx. 450 ft. elevation change and mixed terrain: pavement, stairs, dirt paths. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Plan to be out about 3-4 hours. Capacity: 25 people. Leader: Amy K.
Saturday, October 29: The Bayview. Meet at 10am at Joseph Lee Recreation Center, 1598 Oakdale Ave. On this 7-mile point-to-point walk, we’ll see the Quesada Gardens, Nature in the City’s habitat restoration project at Palou-Phelps Mini Park, and the Calibird Pollinator Sanctuary. We’ll continue on to Hilltop Park (and its impressive sundial); Yosemite Slough, an extension of Candlestick Point State Recreation Area currently under development; and then on to Bay View Hill, with its secret views of San Francisco and the new Bayview Letters. The walk ends at the Visitacion Valley Greenway on Leland Ave. Moderate elevation gain and mixed terrain: pavement, stairs, dirt paths. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. We will make brief stops along the way to meet several community stewards and eat lunch at a park, so plan to be out for about 4 hours. Capacity: 25 people. Leader: Karen Rhodes
You can share your adventure with us using #sfcrosstowntrail. Who knows? However you explore the City this October, you may just get inspired to add something of your own to the city’s growing network of connected greenways, gardens, and natural areas.